Page:Traditions of Palestine (microform) (IA traditionsofpale00martrich).pdf/15

 If I did not believe thee wrong, I would follow no more after this man.”

“O! why,” asked Michal, “did he talk with a woman of Sychar?”

"Moreover,” said Paltiel, “he abode in Sychar two days.”

“What would our father say, Sadoc?”

“What he now says, that this Jesus is a false prophet. Paltiel, what other changes may be wrought, as thou believest?”

"I can scarcely say that I believe or expect such changes," replied he; “but this man is like no other, inasmuch as he regards some of our customs, and strangely violates others. By his teaching, he confirms the law and the prophets; and yet some of his thoughts are not those of a Hebrew. He worships in the temple, and goes up to the feast; yet be has said that the temple shall be destroyed. He enters, as ye know, into the synagogue, on the Sabbath, and yet he keeps not the day altogether holy. He condemns extortion, yet eats with publicans. He is pure, and he teaches righteousness, while he discourses with some sinners so polluted that all good men avoid them. No prophet hath done thus of old.”